Jakarta (The Indonesian News) – State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has confirmed that preparations for the commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia are being continuously refined through a full dress rehearsal held at the Merdeka Palace grounds in Jakarta today.
“So today we continue with the full dress rehearsal. It started at 8:00 AM WIB. We have just witnessed the air demonstration practice involving approximately 81 aircraft and helicopters,” Pras said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (August 12).
Pras also expressed his appreciation to all TNI personnel, particularly the pilots and aircrew involved in the aerial display. According to him, flying fighter jets is no light task, as it carries significant safety risks.
“We must recognize that flying fighter jets, in particular, is not a trivial undertaking,” he said.
Pras noted that the TNI pilots and aircrew perform their duties with great pride while simultaneously demonstrating the readiness of the nation’s human resources. “They put their safety on the line, but we feel they fly with immense pride,” Pras said.
During the rehearsal, a number of aircraft and helicopter maneuvers were performed, including a tense maneuver involving three helicopters flying in close formation. However, the entire exercise proceeded smoothly.
“There were also some maneuvers that made our hearts race—three helicopters flying close together—and thank God, it went well,” he said.
Pras stated that evaluations were conducted in real-time during the full dress rehearsal. One aspect under review was the coordination of aircraft and helicopter maneuvers to ensure that the display positions were precisely in front of the main podium. “Especially where the President and guests will be watching,” he explained.
These evaluations were immediately discussed and corrected to ensure the readiness of the entire event series.
In addition to the air display, adjustments were also made to the marching drills. The thick grass conditions at the Merdeka Palace grounds were identified as one of the technical factors affecting the participants’ marching rhythm.
“So the drill instructors requested permission to add extra practice sessions, and as the officer in charge, I immediately approved it,” Pras said.
On that occasion, Pras also confirmed that two Indonesian Rafale jets will participate in the air display for the first time in the commemoration of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day on August 17[citation:7].
Source: Press Release from the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) of the Republic of Indonesia
